The end of profits for Auditors/raters - Home Energy Pros2017-08-18T05:21:45Zhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/forum/topics/the-end-of-profits-for-auditors-raters?commentId=6069565%3AComment%3A66345&feed=yes&xn_auth=noDo you know what they call th…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-02-05:6069565:Comment:765492012-02-05T15:59:23.686ZEd Minchhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EdMinch
<p>Do you know what they call the guy that finishes last in his class at medical school?</p>
<p>Doctor!</p>
<p>A knowledgeable homeowner will ask for some credentials and possibly testimonials, but if a newbie is better at marketing than you are, he will get the work. Like any business, the audit and retrofit - difficult as it is to do well - is still the easy part. Getting your name effectively in front of large quantities of people is the name of the game.</p>
<p>We do retrofits for a…</p>
<p>Do you know what they call the guy that finishes last in his class at medical school?</p>
<p>Doctor!</p>
<p>A knowledgeable homeowner will ask for some credentials and possibly testimonials, but if a newbie is better at marketing than you are, he will get the work. Like any business, the audit and retrofit - difficult as it is to do well - is still the easy part. Getting your name effectively in front of large quantities of people is the name of the game.</p>
<p>We do retrofits for a number of auditors, and several of them are the type that will spend 4 hours in the house and another couple of hours hand holding. Great that they have customer service, great that they feel they have the time to treat everyone as special, but if they only work in 25 houses a year, are they having an effect?</p>
<p>We are continually trying to speed them up so that the house night be 97% complete, not 100%, with 1/2 the time involved. On the other hand, we are also continually trying to get those auditors that are 70% effective up to the same 97%. We can only do so much free work on showing up to a house that is poorly audited.</p> Because there are so many key…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-02-04:6069565:Comment:764462012-02-04T18:10:14.094ZDavid Eggletonhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/DavidEggleton
<p>Because there are so many keys, I posted <a href="http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profiles/blog/show?id=6069565%3ABlogPost%3A75897&amp;commentId=6069565%3AComment%3A76106" target="_self">an offer</a> pertaining to internalizing what is said in the post.</p>
<p>Because there are so many keys, I posted <a href="http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profiles/blog/show?id=6069565%3ABlogPost%3A75897&amp;commentId=6069565%3AComment%3A76106" target="_self">an offer</a> pertaining to internalizing what is said in the post.</p> It does really come down to b…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-02-04:6069565:Comment:765322012-02-04T17:28:41.186ZClifford Ageloffhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/CliffordAgeloff
<p>It does really come down to being a one-man multi-talented multi-tasking show - while willing to wait for your investment to hopefully pay off. One tact in selling is to remind your customer that the only thing you are selling is INFORMATION and you are not pushing any particular product per se. </p>
<p>It does really come down to being a one-man multi-talented multi-tasking show - while willing to wait for your investment to hopefully pay off. One tact in selling is to remind your customer that the only thing you are selling is INFORMATION and you are not pushing any particular product per se. </p> Agree with you 100% Bill!
I…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-02-04:6069565:Comment:765312012-02-04T17:08:44.258ZJason Kaylorhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/JasonKaylor
<p>Agree with you 100% Bill!</p>
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<p>I would have to add another one to Allison's list. Learn marketing and sales. Heck at least read Dale Carnegie's book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/1439199191/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1328375440&amp;sr=8-2" target="_blank">How to win friends and influence people</a>". They should hand out that book when people apply for a business license. </p>
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<p>While linking that thing, I noticed there are some…</p>
<p>Agree with you 100% Bill!</p>
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<p>I would have to add another one to Allison's list. Learn marketing and sales. Heck at least read Dale Carnegie's book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/1439199191/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1328375440&amp;sr=8-2" target="_blank">How to win friends and influence people</a>". They should hand out that book when people apply for a business license. </p>
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<p>While linking that thing, I noticed there are some other variations...obviously updates written by someone else. </p>
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<p>JJ</p> You were chastised for callin…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-02-02:6069565:Comment:762992012-02-02T23:56:15.294ZRon Joneshttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/RonJones
<p>You were chastised for calling BPI a puppy mill? I think you were being too kind. Did anyone from BPI respond/defend their practices?</p>
<p>You were chastised for calling BPI a puppy mill? I think you were being too kind. Did anyone from BPI respond/defend their practices?</p> There are now 8 pages of high…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-01-29:6069565:Comment:761042012-01-29T14:52:19.712ZBill Bradburyhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/BillBradbury
<p>There are now 8 pages of highly trained blame game. Allison lays it out there, it is your fault if you are not successful. Don't blame others, change your game.</p>
<p>There are now 8 pages of highly trained blame game. Allison lays it out there, it is your fault if you are not successful. Don't blame others, change your game.</p> Thanks David.
I hope all you…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-01-29:6069565:Comment:760552012-01-29T13:57:41.135ZPatrick Michaelyanhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/PatrickMichaelyan
<p>Thanks David.</p>
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<p>I hope all you folks out there read the post that David has directed us to, and really allow yourself to internalize all that is said in the post.</p>
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<p>The keys to success are plainly laid out in the post. I, for one, have taken each point to heart.</p>
<p>Thanks David.</p>
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<p>I hope all you folks out there read the post that David has directed us to, and really allow yourself to internalize all that is said in the post.</p>
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<p>The keys to success are plainly laid out in the post. I, for one, have taken each point to heart.</p> Here's a relevant blog on thi…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-01-28:6069565:Comment:758992012-01-28T15:12:34.828ZDavid Eggletonhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/DavidEggleton
<p>Here's <a href="http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profiles/blogs/11-steps-to-becoming-a-successful-home-energy-pro" target="_self">a relevant blog on this site</a>.</p>
<p>Here's <a href="http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profiles/blogs/11-steps-to-becoming-a-successful-home-energy-pro" target="_self">a relevant blog on this site</a>.</p> The only one making any money…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-01-27:6069565:Comment:759572012-01-27T15:14:55.729ZClifford Ageloffhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/CliffordAgeloff
<p>The only one making any money at all are the "McDonalds" of energy auditing; outfits like Conservation Services Group who field mostly 20-somethings who are happy taking home $12/hr. The very idea that a truly independent HERS rater or BPI-minted 'pro' can make a decent living, after amortizing their start-up costs and other overhead in the open marketplace is a non-starter. Plus none of what is 'sold' at the retail lever is proprietary, customers don't know whom or what to believe so…</p>
<p>The only one making any money at all are the "McDonalds" of energy auditing; outfits like Conservation Services Group who field mostly 20-somethings who are happy taking home $12/hr. The very idea that a truly independent HERS rater or BPI-minted 'pro' can make a decent living, after amortizing their start-up costs and other overhead in the open marketplace is a non-starter. Plus none of what is 'sold' at the retail lever is proprietary, customers don't know whom or what to believe so they often take the least-cost approach to minimize their risk.</p>
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<p>Its a tough business and my hat is off to anyone who can make a go of it. </p> "computer tater"....Holy crap…tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-01-27:6069565:Comment:759312012-01-27T01:16:29.221ZWilliam H Nickersonhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/WilliamHNickerson
<p><em>"computer tater"</em>....Holy crap,I thought that only happened here in Virginia.....</p>
<p><em>"computer tater"</em>....Holy crap,I thought that only happened here in Virginia.....</p>